From the category archives:

Church

I need some ideas …

by Lisa B on March 9, 2010

for a women’s dinner at my church. As you may know, I don’t cook. I don’t do that whole hospitality thing well either. And those cutesy little gifts? I got nothing. But I have a heart for women’s ministry. I have a heart for women who are hurting — and we all are at some point in our lives. Either going into hurt, smack-dab in the middle of it, or coming out the other side of it.

One of the men at my church asked Duck if his group would play music at this dinner. He wants the men to cook and serve the ladies dinner. He wants this to be an outreach — evangelical — for ladies to invite unsaved friends. Duck told him that I have a heart for women’s ministry and that I might have some ideas for a speaker or two.

Side note: Can I just say it was kinda weird hearing from this man that Duck said I have a heart for women’s ministry? Why? You may ask? Well, it’s not something that I’ve ever really talked about with Duck. I mean it’s stuff I’ve spouted here. Maybe he’s heard me talking with someone else. But it’s not something that he and I have ever discussed. It was kind of validating in a sense that yes, I do have a heart for women’s ministry and should use my talents and gifts in that.

Back to needing ideas: Basically I need ideas from you. I know ya’ll are a crafty, creative bunch. And even if you yourself don’t have any ideas, maybe you can share a website or two where you get ideas from? I’m looking for anything from a theme to decorations ideas to gift ideas. You know — any of those little things that women typically enjoy. Have you been to anything like this? What did you enjoy? What was not so great?

If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate a lot of prayer for this also. I feel led to speak … as in get up in front of a group of ladies and share a story … and that makes my stomach do flops. Seriously? There’s no delete button in speaking. There’s no rereading and editing in speaking. One shot. Can I be interesting? Will I say the right words? I’ve been praying for awhile that God would take this desire away from me, but He really doesn’t like it when I argue with Him. He keeps giving me visions of standing on stage and parts of the message to give. So, prayer. Lots of prayer please. Thanks! I appreciate it! Let me know if there’s something I can pray about for you as well!

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Ever given anonymously?

by Lisa B on October 19, 2009

Have you ever been blessed by giving anonymously?

This weekend I had the privilege of being a small part of a fundraiser for a little girl in our church. I grinned ear to ear every time I saw her bright, smiling face at the dinner! Praise God we raised enough to cover her surgery (almost $20,000)!!! I’ll let that sink in

In Sunday School class, one of the ladies shared a story about a man who had seen the banners and felt compelled to stop by the church and give money. She showed him the way to the table and when he was asked, he’d only give his first name. He said he didn’t want anyone to know his name. Now this isn’t all that anonymous, because they know what he looks like, but how cool is God that He laid it on this guy’s heart to give? And that he doesn’t care if he “gets credit” for it?

Well, I had the opportunity to give anonymously yesterday. It felt soooo good! There’s a lady in our church who is struggling with many things. She’s been busy helping with the fundraiser and other things — all thinking about and serving others — meanwhile she is the type that will refuse help for herself. So knowing this, I had a gift to give her, but I knew she would refuse to take it from me if I tried to give it to her. I left it in her car. Unsigned. I felt so sneaky I grinned ear from ear thinking about her finding it in there and wondering who left it — but (most importantly) not being able to give it back!! {and if you happen to go to my church, and happen to know who I’m talking about — shhhhh! Don’t tell!}

I don’t share this to say “oh look at me — I did this great and wondrous thing!” Quite the opposite! It wasn’t a wondrous thing — it was a small gesture. The main reason I am sharing here is to challenge you to do something this week for someone and be sneaky about it — don’t let them know it’s you who did it! It’s an amazingly good feeling. Trust me. You’ve got to try it!

Ok, I’m off to get some work done today. I hope to be back here blogging a little more regularly than every couple of weeks! I’ve got an awesome idea (inspired by God, confirmed by a few God friends) for this blog. There’s lots of stuff I’ve got inside me that I want to share with you. I think along the way, I’ve been distracted from my purpose for this blog. I’m getting back on track — not to say I might not go off track again, but I’m working my way back to the track Oh, if you do give anonymously, let me know in the comments — you don’t have to give details, just let me know you did something and how you felt I know God will bless you!!

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Happy Spiritual Anniversary to Me and Duck

by Lisa B on July 7, 2009

I am embarrassed and ashamed. I let the better part of today go by without recognizing, remembering that today is my 13th Spiritual Anniversary. I have come a long way since then — through some not so good times and some great times. I just realized how “for granted” I’ve been taking my relationship with God lately. I need my quiet time with Him. I need my prayer life back to what I know it should be. Reading over this post I wrote originally 2 years ago was like reading something a different person wrote. I remember I used to be a good writer. I used to enjoy writing here. Lately I feel I’ve been nothing but pessimistic and a big downer. I’ve let arrogance settle back into my heart thinking I can handle things on my own. I’m going to change my attitude, because by the grace of God, I have so much to be thankful for!

But for now … just a tiny bit of my testimony…

You’re not losing your mind. It’s not my wedding anniversary. Eleven [thirteen] years ago today, Howard and I visited Rose of Sharon looking for a church home and place to get married that following October. I grew up mostly in church. I knew some of the Bible stories everyone talks about. I believed Jesus was God’s son — born of a virgin, died on the cross and rose again. I also believed I could do just fine handling my life on my own. So while I might have died back then and gone to heaven, my life was a mess. I was getting ready to marry. I had told Howard I was saved (believing in Jesus and all I stated before), but when we were visiting churches — each sermon touched me. It’s kinda hard to describe to people who’ve never felt the Holy Spirit moving inside them, but think of it as chills running across your body.

I had wanted to respond — to walk down front — to tell the pastor I wanted to be sure Jesus was in my heart — that I not only wanted to go to heaven when I die, but that I wanted Jesus to help me in my everyday life. But what would Howard think? Would he think I lied to him? Would he still want to marry me? We visited Rose of Sharon during their revival. They had an evangelist, Bailey Smith, preaching there for 4 days. That Sunday morning, we walked into the church and sat down. We heard a tremendously clear sermon on the wheat and the tares (a parable from Matthew 13:24-30).

Did you know that on the outside wheat and tares look exactly the same? You cannot tell the difference from the outside. Only by breaking them open do you see the tares are empty. I knew I was a tare — I could play church with the best of them. I could answer everyone’s questions correctly — yes, I’m saved. Yes, I believe in Jesus. No, I don’t want to go to hell. But inside me, I was empty. I was trying to control everything myself.

During the prayer, I prayed that God would forgive me of my arrogance — that Jesus would come fill the hole inside me and help me get through my days. Every eye closed — every head bowed — the pastor asked for those who’d prayed that prayer to raise their hands. I raised my hand. It no longer mattered what Howard would think. Above all else, I needed to be right with God. The pastor commented, “thank you over here to my left — thank you God for this couple over to my right.” How so very cool I thought — that a couple were getting saved together.

When the pastor finished the prayer, he asked for those who’d raised their hands to come forward — to make it public that we’d prayed that prayer. I stepped out. Howard followed. I asked him where he was going — he said up front — he’d prayed that prayer too. Not knowing my left from the pastor’s right (being the same thing since he was facing us), I hadn’t realized the couple he mentioned — was Howard and I.

Happy Anniversary to you too Howard

God so richly blessed us that day and many, many days since then. I truly know if we had not prayed that prayer together, that day, that we would not be married today. God is the only one who can hold a marriage together. Thank you God so very much for saving both of us, being involved in our everyday lives (when we’d let you), and growing our marriage to be stronger today than it ever has been.

It also did not escape me that this date was my Granny’s birthday. I thought it was appropriate that I was saved on this day. Granny had a Bible in her living room that she read every day. When I would stay the night with her, I’d pick it up and just read part of it. Granny had read the Bible all the way through once or twice. She was very sad when her eye sight went and she couldn’t read it any longer. She passed away 9 [11] years ago at the age of 87 — Can’t wait to see you in heaven Granny

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Time does not heal all wounds.

June 22, 2009

Sometimes it rips them open.
If I had blogged on a reliable basis (ha, like I do now – not) 6 years ago, I might have blogged all that went on with this situation. That would not necessarily have been a good thing.
To give you the basics:

Duck and I were saved in this church
We served in [...]

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I see hurting people.

March 2, 2009

Ever have those times when you’ve written a post (or three) in your head and you’re positive you’ve already posted it. Well, that’s kind of how I feel about this one. So if you’ve heard this before, give me a lot of grace. This has a little twist.
As some of you may know, we’ve been [...]

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Whole Woman Day

February 25, 2009

For those of you in my area, Whole Woman Day is coming back to Providence Baptist Church. This is a great women’s conference and it’s very affordable. For me, it’s within driving distance meaning no hotel and the ticket is only $40 before April 4th. If you are going I would love to know. I [...]

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Giveaway: Focus on the Family Group Starter Kit Women’s Series

November 26, 2008

Several years ago, God placed hurting women in the church on my heart. I thought then that I might become a Women’s Ministry Leader in the church we were going to, but several closed doors later, I realize my ministry is going to be online. I have had this kit sitting on my shelf for [...]